Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-10-22
The Last sSnake story for the Fire
Department to make n mote Of.

!
In Central Dakota, on the "Missour
bottoms" there exists one of natures
strangest freaks. The settlers term it the
"pump snake" How it came there and
where it came from is yet unknown. 1t FIRST
made its appearance in Emmons county in
the Springof 1886. A full.grown pump
snake measures about sixteen feet in length
and about three inches in diameter. They
are Of gregarious habits, roaming the prair'
les in large herds, as many as 500 having
been counted in a single flock. In dissec'
ting one of these reptiles there is found
tube which extends from the roof Of the jaw
to the extremity Of the tail and terminating
IN an opening. This tube is about two
inches in diameter and lined with tough.
yielding substance similar to rubber. The
pump snake is easily trained to answer the
call Of man. The inhabitants in this section
trap them in large numbers.
| A farmer on Cat Tail Creek has flock OF
twenty pump snakes trained to remarkable
degree OF proficiency. At the blast OF
whistle the snakes assemble on the banks OF
the creek. The leader llhere is Always
leader 10 a herd Of these snakes, who is
elected by two-thirds majority dashes in
to the water of the creek, leaving only the
extremity of its tail on the bank. Another
snake Immediately grasps the end OF the
leaders tail in his jaws;a third takes hold
of the second snakes tail in similar man
ner, and so on, extending to the water
lroughs in the cattle yards, 900. feet away.
The leading snake begins to swallow or
pump the water ofthe creek, which passes
through the long line Of snakes as it would
through hose, and falls in heavy stream
into the trough.
The agricuturist told Of an extraordinary
circumstance which occurred q short time
ago. While working in field near his
home he observed flames issuing from the
roof OF his barn. Wild with excitement he
hurried to the burning building, only to see
that it was hopeless task for himself alone
to attempt to extinguish the flames. In de-
spair he gazed on the work of destruction;
suddenly he heard loud rustliug in the tall
grass, whence issued his herd of pump
snakes on the run. The leader hurled him
self into the creek, the rest instantly adjust
ing themselves, heads and tails, from the
creek TO the. burning building. The last
snake, standing on its head. waved its long
and flexible body, from the tail Of which is
sued a stream Of water that was thrown with
terrific force on the burning building. Back
and forth dashed the tail end OF the living
hose, squirting the water where it would do
the most good, while the loud pumping Of
the leader could be herd above the roar Of
the conhsgralion. Within fifteen minutes
the last spark was out. Then, an, not until
then, did the pump snakes quit work. They
were completely exhausted, the leader hav.
ing tainted dead away. The main part OF
the building and its contents were saved,
thanks 10 the presence of mind Of these won
derful snakes.
- Th~ Ts-rite-;~i Gews,nment Is becoming |
awakened to the extreme usefplness of these
interesting creatures, and laws are to lie en-
acted to protect the pump snake Chicago
7r!6une.